American Pride? (Home Depot, living, legally)

[N.Y.C.H]

I am a first generation american, european immigrants who lives in the northeast. I came across a video and it made me wonder, in large hispanic areas in texas, especially with mexican immigrants, do they share a great amount of pride for the United States, or does their pride side with Mexico, or is it both? I hope this doesn't come off as being rude, but for those who lives their, especially hispanics, what is the case?

[N.Y.C.H]

Maybe I should be more specific with Mexican AMERICANS, citizens not illegals.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by N.Y.C.H

Maybe I should be more specific with Mexican AMERICANS, citizens not illegals.

As an oldster who has spent most of my life living on the US side of the border with Mexico, I believe that the majority of Mexican Americans identify in just that way!

They consider themselves as a unique ethnicity - neither fully either culture, but uniquely their own. It's the main reason various movements and social reconfiguring found wide acceptance, beginning in the Civil Rights era. Consider such newly minted designations as: Chicano, Aztlan/Brown Berets, La Raza Unida, Hispanic, Latino, etc.

Of no small significance is the fact that the majority of Mexican Americans identify with Catholicism, as opposed to the remainder of US citizens who identify with a wide variety of religious affiliations.

[theone33]

First you said mexican immigrants then mexican americans. There is a big difference between Juan who stands outside Home Depot every day for work and a chicano who barely speaks spanish. I think some people....correction a lot of people lump every brown person with a spanish last name together

[N.Y.C.H]

Well by mexican immigrants i meant just that, not illegal immigrants. People who legally left mexico and became American.

Thanks for the reply joqua.

I am just wondering if they hold the same pride and respect for the us in largely hispanic areas vs other parts of the country.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by N.Y.C.H

Well by mexican immigrants i meant...People who legally left mexico and became American.

Thanks for the reply joqua.

You used the term "Mexican American" and I responded to that designation in an all-inclusive manner. I do not distinguish between those born in the USA vs immigrants. I think of it as a singular culture/ethnicity regardless of how many generations of family were or were not born in the USA.

I believe MOST who identify with their Mexican heritage are also proud to be called American and resent it if they are instead called Mexican.

It's not any different for those with other heritages. I'm Norwegian/German extraction, but would never refer to myself as either. I was born in the USA and therefore, by birth, am American. Were I a naturalized citizen, I'd think of myself the same way.